There are two ways to connect your home computer to the Internet: dial-up or broadband. What are the differences between these two methods and the advantages and disadvantages of each?
1. Dial-Up
Dial-up is a very popular way to connect to the Internet from home. All that is needed for a dial-up connection is a computer, a modem, a telephone line, and an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Most computers come with built-in modems. Therefore, the most important aspect of the dial-up connection is the ISP, as it provides the connection to the outside world.
Fortunately, there are many ISPs to choose from, from large national companies, such as NetZero, to smaller, local companies. Choosing the right ISP for your needs is very important, so there are several points to consider:
How much do you wish to spend per month?
How often do you wish to connect to the Internet?
What do you plan on using your Internet connection for?
At what speed do you wish to connect to the Internet?
Which ISPs are actually available in your area, and which have local or toll-free dial-up numbers?
The ISP that you select will provide you with software or directions to configure your computer. During this process you will have to enter details such as your telephone area code and whether you have call waiting. You will have to choose local access numbers.
Once your computer is set up, you can connect to the Internet. When connecting to the Internet, the modem in your computer dials the specific telephone numbers that were selected during the ISP's setup process. These numbers connect your computer to the ISP, and once a connection is established, information is transferred back and forth from your machine, through the telephone line, to the ISP and then on to the Internet.
Dial-up is the slowest of the connection methods discussed here. The speed at which you connect will depend on the service and ISP you choose. You may be disconnected from the Internet while using a dial-up, and a dial-up connection will tie up your telephone line when in use. On the positive side, dial-up, is fully capable of handling e-mail and Internet browsing, and dial-up connections are usually the cheapest and most widespread of the connection methods.
2. Broadband: Cable
Cable Internet access offers a fast, always-on connection to the Internet using the television cable that you may already have in your home.
To use cable Internet access, you need a computer, a cable modem, and a local cable company that offers cable Internet access. The cable modem itself is a small device that connects to the cable jacks in your home, and the service provider will often lease and install the cable modem along with any software that is required. Your computer is then connected to the cable modem, usually via an Ethernet cable, although wireless connections are also available; you are then connected to the Internet whenever your computer is on.
Cable Internet access will cost more than dial-up but usually a little less than DSL. It offers a much faster connection than Dial-up, but can be slower than DSL. Using a cable modem will have no adverse effect on your regular television service, and cable Internet access is often offered at a reduced rate if you buy it as part of a bundle or package of services from your cable provider.
3. DSL: Broadband
DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line; this is the other high-speed, always-on, Internet connection. It is similar to cable access except that it uses the telephone line to make the connection. To use DSL you need a computer, a DSL modem, and a telephone service provider.
DSL Internet access is usually offered by local telephone service providers, and the service provider will usually lease and install the DSL modem and any software that you need. DSL works in a similar way to cable access in that your computer is connected to the DSL modem via Ethernet or wireless. The DSL modem then transfers data through your telephone line to the telephone company and then on to the Internet.
DSL is usually slightly more expensive than cable access. The speeds are comparable, with DSL having a slight advantage.
DSL does not tie up your telephone line, although to use it you will need a free or unused telephone jack. DSL Internet access is also often discounted if you buy it as part of a bundle of services from your telephone service provider.
4. Wireless
DSL and Cable connections offer wireless connection options and you must contact them for the setup directions. If they don't provide one, you will need a to purchase a wirelsess router. Your laptop is already wireless ready so once you receive the setup instructions you will be ready to use the Internet from home.
Connecting to the Internet from Home (optional)
1. Dial-Up
Dial-up is a very popular way to connect to the Internet from home. All that is needed for a dial-up connection is a computer, a modem, a telephone line, and an Internet Service Provider (ISP).Most computers come with built-in modems. Therefore, the most important aspect of the dial-up connection is the ISP, as it provides the connection to the outside world.
Fortunately, there are many ISPs to choose from, from large national companies, such as NetZero, to smaller, local companies. Choosing the right ISP for your needs is very important, so there are several points to consider:
- How much do you wish to spend per month?
- How often do you wish to connect to the Internet?
- What do you plan on using your Internet connection for?
- At what speed do you wish to connect to the Internet?
- Which ISPs are actually available in your area, and which have local or toll-free dial-up numbers?
The ISP that you select will provide you with software or directions to configure your computer. During this process you will have to enter details such as your telephone area code and whether you have call waiting. You will have to choose local access numbers.Once your computer is set up, you can connect to the Internet. When connecting to the Internet, the modem in your computer dials the specific telephone numbers that were selected during the ISP's setup process. These numbers connect your computer to the ISP, and once a connection is established, information is transferred back and forth from your machine, through the telephone line, to the ISP and then on to the Internet.
Dial-up is the slowest of the connection methods discussed here. The speed at which you connect will depend on the service and ISP you choose. You may be disconnected from the Internet while using a dial-up, and a dial-up connection will tie up your telephone line when in use. On the positive side, dial-up, is fully capable of handling e-mail and Internet browsing, and dial-up connections are usually the cheapest and most widespread of the connection methods.
2. Broadband: Cable
Cable Internet access offers a fast, always-on connection to the Internet using the television cable that you may already have in your home.To use cable Internet access, you need a computer, a cable modem, and a local cable company that offers cable Internet access. The cable modem itself is a small device that connects to the cable jacks in your home, and the service provider will often lease and install the cable modem along with any software that is required. Your computer is then connected to the cable modem, usually via an Ethernet cable, although wireless connections are also available; you are then connected to the Internet whenever your computer is on.
Cable Internet access will cost more than dial-up but usually a little less than DSL. It offers a much faster connection than Dial-up, but can be slower than DSL. Using a cable modem will have no adverse effect on your regular television service, and cable Internet access is often offered at a reduced rate if you buy it as part of a bundle or package of services from your cable provider.
3. DSL: Broadband
DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line; this is the other high-speed, always-on, Internet connection. It is similar to cable access except that it uses the telephone line to make the connection. To use DSL you need a computer, a DSL modem, and a telephone service provider.DSL Internet access is usually offered by local telephone service providers, and the service provider will usually lease and install the DSL modem and any software that you need. DSL works in a similar way to cable access in that your computer is connected to the DSL modem via Ethernet or wireless. The DSL modem then transfers data through your telephone line to the telephone company and then on to the Internet.
DSL is usually slightly more expensive than cable access. The speeds are comparable, with DSL having a slight advantage.
DSL does not tie up your telephone line, although to use it you will need a free or unused telephone jack. DSL Internet access is also often discounted if you buy it as part of a bundle of services from your telephone service provider.
4. Wireless
DSL and Cable connections offer wireless connection options and you must contact them for the setup directions. If they don't provide one, you will need a to purchase a wirelsess router. Your laptop is already wireless ready so once you receive the setup instructions you will be ready to use the Internet from home.